Motoiujbiven



T. H. PARKINSON.

MOTOR DRIVEN SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED ocpza. 1911.

TO R 0774 Tlwmasll. Par

ATTORNEY WITN ESSES T. H. PARKINSON.

MOTOR DRIVEN SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 23. 1917. I

1,31%,896. Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A'I'TO R N EY a z s;

y x N J 1/10 EPH' IZaZQZ THOMAS H. PARKINSON, 0F TWISP, WASHINGTON.

MOTOR-DRIVEN SLEIGH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed October 23, 1917. Serial No. 198,122.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, THOMAS H. PARKIN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Twisp, in the county of Okanogan and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Motor-Driven Sleigh, of which the followin is a specification. l

The inventlon relates to an attachment for automobiles, and more particularly to the class of motor-driven sleigh attachments for automobiles.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character, wherein the automobile is converted into a sleigh, and driven in a unique and positive manner so that the same will travel over ice or snow surfaces and the driving wheels will be maintained in engagement with said surfaces, irrespective of the irregularities of the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character wherein the driving wheels thereof are prevented from clogging, thereby assuring a firm engagement with the ice or snow surfaces to avoid the slipping or the skidding of the wheels when driving an automobile.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character which is comparatively simple in construction, readily and easily applied to an automobile, without necessitating changes or alt-erations therein, strong, durable and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

. A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood, of course, that whilethe drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or modified, as long as such changes and modificationsmark nomaterial departure from the-salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims. a

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an, automobile, showing the attachment constructed in accordance with the invention applied; Fig.2 is a to plan view of the chassis of the automoblle showing. indetail the sleigh attachment;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of a portion of the attachment; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow and showing portions of the parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view through the front runner connected with the axle spindle of the automobile Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through one of the driving wheels;

Fig. 7 is a pers ective view of one of the tread cleats or spilfes for the wheels.

' Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally an automobile structure of the ordinary type having the usual steering mechanism, not shown, for the guiding of the automobile in its travel.

Mounted upon the front axle spindles 10 of the automobile A are the front sleigh runners, each including the bob runner rail 11 carrying a tread shoe 12, the rail 11 being curved upwardly at its toe and heel, braces 13 and a hub 14, the braces being disposed in downwardly diverging relation to each other and are suitably fixed to the runner rail 11 and the hub M respectively. Fixed to the stationary axle 15 near each end thereof is a bracket 16 which extends over the usual turn-knuckle 17 connecting the axle spindle 10 to the stationary axle l5, and pivoted to this bracket 16 is a lever 18 to which are loosely connected forwardly and rearwardly extending rigid rods 19, the

same being also connected to coiled retractile springs 20 which are connected to the eyebolts 21 mounted in the runner rails 11 near the toes and heels thereof. The lever 18 will swing on its pivot axis when each front runner is in deep snow and traveling over irregularities in the snow, bed, and in this manner the runner will be prevented from turning over, because the springs 20 will act as equalizers to sustain the runner normally in neutral position or will return the same to such position when turned on theaxlelO in the travel ofthe automobile. It, is, of course, understood that the front attaching the front runners.

wheels of the automobile are removedwhen l 1 The rear Wheels of the automobile are re- 9 moved and to the load-carrying axle 22 are fixed the rear runners, each consisting of a bob runner rail 28,the toe and heel ends of which are upwardly curved, and a standard 24 which is bolted or otherwise fastened to the runner rail 23 and clipped to said axle 22, preferably by, the use'of a pair of spaced straps 25, which embrace said axle 22 and are secured to the standard in any suitable mannerr Fixed in any suitable manner to the respective ends of the driving axle 26 are sprocket wheels or hubs 2 presently described. v V

Swingingly connected to the load-carrying aXle 22 and extending rearwardly there- 7 for a purpose fromis a 'substantially U-shaped frame 28,

Vwhich, at the forward ends of the sides 29 thereof, carry coupling straps 80 which loosely embrace the axle 22 between the straps 2,5 connecting, the standards of the rear runners to said axle, and in this mantudinally in'the frame28, and in this man- 82' which nerthe bearings 38 .can be adjusted toward and away from the load-carrying axle 82 of the automobile for the loosening or tightening of endless drivi g chains 86. which are trained; over the sprocket wheels or hubs 27and K also. trained over sprocket wheels 87' fixed'to the Outer-ends of the stud axles project beyond the sides 29"0f the frame.

' On thestarting'of the motor within the automobilemotion will be imparted through the driving axle 26 to the chains 86, and thenceto the wheels 81 for the advancement of the automobile upon. its runners over a snoworice surface. i

V The; wheels Bleach has bolted or otherwise secured to. the rim or felly' 88 thereof cleats or spikes 89 which constitute nonskidding devices to assure the positive' ene gagement 'of'the wheels 81 with a snow or ice "surface. s i I Surrounding each, wheel 81 is a linkchain 40,. certain of the links of which are enf gaged with the cleats or spikes 89 so that displacement of the-chains 4O circumfere A entially ofthewheel'isavoided, and these chains'preventfthe clogging o f the wheel w thisnow or ice when travellng over a snow o ce surface by a lnn1ted movement lengthwise 'ofthe spikes. V

Glamped' or otl'ierwise fastened t'o-the rear cross rail ofthe frame 28isaii elliptical leaf-"spring 41 "the rear end of an auxiliary frame42 superposed above the mam frame 28, and has its side rails 48 at their forward ends fastened at 4A to the front, cross beam of the main frame 28 to. permit vertical'swinging movements of the auxiliary frame 42, which supports a box or receiver 45 adapted to containstones, rock, gravel or sand, con- .stltutlng a welght for causmg the drlvmg wheels 81 to constantly engage with the snow or ice surface irrespective of irregularities in the surface, thus assuring the positive driving of the automobilethereover. v

The operation of the automobile sleigh attachment, it is thought, will be apparent andasv in be briefly expressedg will con sist' in driving the-automobile over a snow orice surface by power delivered from'the engine or motor through the driving axle 26 to the chains 86, and thence to the-wheels the, advancement of the same uponth'evice or snowsurface.

From the foregoing, itis thought thatthe construction and; operation of the invention will be clearljzapparent," and: therefore .a

, more extended explanation has been omitted;

What is claimed is: p p p 1, 'IQhe combination with a motor vehicle having sleigh runners and also havingra load-carrying and live axle,rof a substantially U-shaped frame arranged rearwardly of the vehicle, means connecting; the. for: ward: end of the frame to the load-carry? ing axle,bearings1mounted on, the frame,

traction wheelshaving journals in said bearings and also provided with ;anti-skidding treads, sprocket wheels fixed to the journals ,of'sa'id wheels and also fixed to the live axle,

endless sprocket chains trained over? the sprocket wheels,; and a weight lcarrier sup ported upon; said frame j e v j 2, The combustion" with a otor vehicle having sl ghmim rs and, also av ng, a

load -carrying andl ve axle, of a substan-c tially U-sh-ap edj frame arranged rearwardly of the vehicle, means connecting the, foraX1e,, eaings te 11' he:fi me,-. trac+ tion wheels having journals in saidfb'earings, sprocket wheels fixed to the journals of said ward end of the frame, to, the load-carrying wheels, sprocketwheels fixed to the live axle, 1

endless sprocket chains, trained over the sprocket wheels, a weight carrier supported upon i ram ,v nd. a ipl l gginterposed et ee e W eigh rrier's the r rame pfr res ie t y supp rt ng W gh ca ecbmbinat on with at am v n e havi g s eigh r n -an al havin a e a yi s a d v ax e. of a wbs an:

tially h p d. r me rranged. rewards of the veh1cle,'m eans connecting the forward nd of the ame t thelea rca f y gra le;

bearings mounted on s5 2 81 so that the automobile is propelled for wheels having journals in said bearings, sprocket wheels fixed to the journals of said wheels, sprocket wheels fixed to the live axle, endless sprocket chains trained over the sprocket wheels, an auxiliary frame having its forward ends flexibly connected to the first-named frame, an elliptical spring interposed between the frames for yieldably supporting said auxiliary frame, and a weight receptacle supported by the auxiliary frame.

4. The combination with a motor vehicle having sleigh runners and also having a load-carrying and live axle, of a substantially U-shaped frame arranged rearwardly of the Vehicle, means connecting the forward end of the frame to the load-carrying axle, bearings mounted on the frame, traction wheels having journals in said bearings and also provided with anti-skidding treads, driving connections between the journals of the wheels and the live axle, an auxiliary frame having its forward ends flexibly connected to the first-named frame, an elliptical spring interposed between the frames for yieldably supporting said auxiliary frame, and a weight receptacle supported by the auxiliary frame.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. PARKINSON.

Witnesses:

J. S. ALLEN, WM. G. HUGHES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

